New Discus taking Long to acclimate

[mhwoos]

Problem

1. Purchased six new discus. New fish have been hiding for 2.5 weeks in back. 2 of them are eating and sitting in the middle of tank.
2. Just hiding and lethargic.
3. None
4. 105 gallon(36 gallon sump), 6 months old, 30 tetras, 8 discus, 3 rainbows, 4 siamese eaters
5. 40-50% per week. Will pick up to every 4 days starting today.
6. 6 months, ada Amazon substrate
7. No
8. Prime. I do not age water
9. City water


- temp 82

- ph 6.5

- ammonia reading 0

- nitrite reading 0

- nitrate reading 0

What type of water or combinations of water sources do you use? If it is an RO/tap/well water mix, please list percentages in the mix.
- municipal water x



10. No


11. Brine shrimp, beef heart and flake


https://photos.app.goo.gl/3FqXe8Cmfo1RrjRx5 (https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipMpYiKDRS_RMkvwR3sLv9kJY52iEP_LRPFHEntD4Ko5me 7Zpw4ZRhcVWcKLOEIKgg?key=SlczZEpkX2xLVVFMRnE4XzBiZ 0lyU18tYWt2R1JB)
https://photos.app.goo.gl/fGA6Ad2jeJuT6VJi8

[mhwoos]

https://photos.app.goo.gl/fGA6Ad2jeJuT6VJi8

[peewee1]

Try blood worms both frozen and freeze dry. Quit the beef heart for a while. Also all Discus seem to relish freeze dried Black Worms. Perhaps all of the Tetras and others have the Discus terrified? The four hiders might be sick? Prime and salt work in combination. Do a Youtube search for Discus and orange peels and see what you think.

[danotaylor]

If you're feeding beefheart, and only do 40-50% water changes per week and have 0 nitrates I suspect something is wrong with your test kit. Have you cross checked your readings by taking a water sample to your LFS?
If possible increase your water changes to every other day with preheated aged water and see if that helps improve their condition.

[Second Hand Pat]

I fixed the links in the first and second posts. Beautiful tank BTW. I would suggest finding out what the discus were eating prior to buying them. Also did you QT them prior to adding them with other fish? I think Danny's idea of increasing WCs is a good start.
Pat

[mhwoos]

Thanks for the feedback and compliment.

I checked my parameter with the API strips and liquid test kits. They matched. So I do believe what I reported is accurate.

They have seemed to perk up after the water change. I will try to maintain a 2-3 day change schedule.

The pH of my tap water is 7.5. A little higher that I remember it to be.

[Tuterosso]

dudeeeeeeeeeee to much light, discus dont like so much light

[Mando]

dudeeeeeeeeeee to much light, discus dont like so much light

I kind of agree with this. My discus were on the 24hr light schedule, sunrise to sunset, and they hated the 1pm-4pm bright light. However, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but you put 6 new discus in a tank with 2 discus and a bunch of other mates. I'm assuming without QT. So I suspect that there is something going on other than an acclimating issue. Can you show us pics of the 6 fish that are hiding? bright lights + 30 tetras is enough to keep them hidden let alone the QT process.

how big are these 6 discus? and, I'm kinda in love with your tank!:heart2:

Double check your nitrates. You should have something. I think anything over 10 needs a water change, but 5-10 is ok. I believe in a planted tank you want to be somewhere in the 15ppm range.

Also, I see that you have a rimless red sea tank; so do I. make sure to get their screened lid because discus do go flying. I was home when my discus went flying and I was able to put him back in the tank. Red Sea's screened covers are basically a DIY kit and it's low key so you can't even tell it's on the tank.

[mhwoos]

Thanks for the feedback. As of right now, the following changes were made:

1. Temp increased to 83-84
2. Water changes every 4 days
3. Light output decreased to 33w(5000K)

I made change 1 and 2 at the time of my first post. 3 of the six are out all of the time now and eat well. 2 are in the back and look healthy, one took a leap because my kids were running around.

Discus are 3+".

Nitrates are below 10.

I didn't quarantine.

Sometimes the two in the back come out. Hard to say if their is an issue. I am going to stay on this regiment for another couple of weeks.

[Mando]

Keep us updated! And try to check for the color of their feces, any darkening, and check their gills, etc. The one that jumped, did it survive? Order your cover asap.

I hope you enjoy your tank as it is very beautiful.

[bluelagoon]

They also may be hiding from kids running about near the tank. Changing large amounts of "city" water greater than 25-30% is not the greatest appoach in most cases if your not aging the water. I have been aging my water now for as many years as I've been on this site and it works for large WC's. I see no more micro bubles after a WC and this has really helped inprove things over the years. I do 80% WC's now; if I did it without aging, Im sure they would get stressed over and over each time.

[bluelagoon]

You have a planted tank and you should see the micro bubbles even more so than a non planted tank. The plants are using the CO2 gases and turning it to O2 quickly. Google "false pearling".

[mhwoos]

I am going to cut back on the size of my WC to 25 from 50. I am also going to try oranges to lure them out.